This blog is linked to a project I have been undertaking for the last three years. My aim is to produce a book on the war memorials of Shropshire with publication timed to take place in 2014, the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. The end of 2011 is a significant point in the development of the project as it marks the completion of the bulk of my research work. This has involved visiting hundreds of local memorials of all kinds and compiling a database of more than 800 memorials in the county. As part of this work of course I have gathered a whole array of facts, information and stories linked to the memorials themselves and the men commemorated on them. These, along with a glossary of the memorials will form the backbone of the book. I have been helped in my research by a vast number of people I have met on my travels and who have contacted me via this blog. There help has been incalculable and I am very grateful to them all.
The new year will see me begin to write a first draft of the book which is already taking shape in my mind. There are likely to be chapters covering the following:
A general history of the development of war memorials
Early examples in Shropshire
Memorials in schools and colleges
VC winners commemorated on Shropshire memorials
Architects, designers and manufacturers
There will also be chapters on memorials in various towns and parts of the county such as: Oswestry & the NW, Telford, Shrewsbury, Ludlow & the SW. Finally of course there will be a gazetteer listing each of the memorials I have identified with location and brief details.
Putting the book together is a challenge I am looking forward to. There is, however, one detail which I have yet to resolve. What should be its title? Various ideas have sprung to mind or been suggested, including: ‘An Immortal Heritage’, ‘Sites/Stones of Remembrance’ & ‘Amongst the Crosses’. Please let me know what you think of these or if you have any ideas of your own – peterjohnfrancis@googlemail.com. It would be a big help.
The new year will see me begin to write a first draft of the book which is already taking shape in my mind. There are likely to be chapters covering the following:
A general history of the development of war memorials
Early examples in Shropshire
Memorials in schools and colleges
VC winners commemorated on Shropshire memorials
Architects, designers and manufacturers
There will also be chapters on memorials in various towns and parts of the county such as: Oswestry & the NW, Telford, Shrewsbury, Ludlow & the SW. Finally of course there will be a gazetteer listing each of the memorials I have identified with location and brief details.
Putting the book together is a challenge I am looking forward to. There is, however, one detail which I have yet to resolve. What should be its title? Various ideas have sprung to mind or been suggested, including: ‘An Immortal Heritage’, ‘Sites/Stones of Remembrance’ & ‘Amongst the Crosses’. Please let me know what you think of these or if you have any ideas of your own – peterjohnfrancis@googlemail.com. It would be a big help.
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